The Apothecary Diaries

Maomao, the daughter of an apothecary, is torn from her quiet life and sold into service at the imperial court, where she works as a low-ranking maid. Determined to keep her head down, she conceals her deep knowledge of medicine to avoid drawing attention in a place where curiosity can be dangerous.

Her resolve is tested when the emperor’s infant children suddenly fall ill with severe, baffling symptoms that others whisper about like a curse. Maomao pieces together the truth and tries to pass along her conclusion anonymously, but the sharp-eyed eunuch Jinshi traces it back to her. Recognizing her ability, he helps elevate her to lady-in-waiting to the emperor’s favored concubine, Gyokuyou—placing Maomao in the heart of court life, where her skill at diagnosing and treating ailments soon becomes impossible to ignore.